Related Topics ► Other TopicsThermal Paper Products
Thermal paper products are among the products that once contained asbestos fibers. Because the transfer of images required the application of high temperatures, thermal paper products contained asbestos to increase its flame retardant properties.
Asbestos was often used in paper products, and asbestos papers and other thermal paper products were often used as pipe insulation and insulation for machine parts. Asbestos gaskets used in engines, pumps and other types of machinery were often made of thermal paper impregnated with asbestos. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, asbestos paper may still be in consumers homes and should be handled with care. You may find asbestos paper wrapped around pipes or used as insulation, backing fiberboard or other products, or in older thermal paper products. Thermal paper products that contain asbestos should be clearly labeled.
According to the CPSC's still current warning about asbestos containing products, handling asbestos containing paper may release asbestos fibers into the air. Breathing asbestos fibers is a known cause of mesothelioma, a rare cancer that is considerably more common among those who were regularly exposed to asbestos in the workplace or the environment. If you encounter asbestos paper in your home or workplace, the CPSC recommends that you wear a respirator approved for use with asbestos, and follow safety precautions to reduce the release of airborne asbestos fibers that may be inhaled.
In 1980, the CPSC asked nine manufacturers of asbestos paper to cease its sales of asbestos paper for home use. Their reason for the request was that testing done by OSHA ( Occupational Health and Safety Administration) showed that appreciable levels of asbestos fibers were released into the air when the paper was folded, cut or torn. Among the thermal paper products that contained asbestos were Fireclad asbestos paper and Fireguard asbestos paper, both manufactured by Carey, and papers manufactured by 3M and GAF.
In addition to concerns about consumer exposure to thermal paper products containing asbestos, thousands of workers involved in the manufacture of asbestos paper products were exposed to high concentrations of asbestos in the ambient air. Workers at processing plants and factories that used asbestos are at least five times as likely to develop mesothelioma than those who were not regularly exposed to asbestos. Those who mixed ingredients for making asbestos paper were especially exposed to high levels of asbestos fibers, as the powdered asbestos raised clouds of dust in the air.
Thermal asbestos paper was used for electrical insulation until the mid 1980s. It may have been used as insulation in air conditioning units and was often used as backing on floor tiles and combustible board. Corrugated asbestos paper was often used as pipe insulation and pipe wrap. Asbestos paper is highly friable and easily damaged. It is generally recommended that consumers not try to remove asbestos paper used as insulation on their own because of the danger of inhaling asbestos fibers in the process.
The greatest danger from asbestos papers today is in the course of removal. In the past, though, anyone who worked with asbestos paper as part of their job had a high probably of being exposed to asbestos in the workplace. If you worked with asbestos paper or thermal paper products and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may have legal recourse to recover compensation for your illness. Because the laws regarding asbestos litigation vary from state to state, it's important that you speak with a mesothelioma lawyer who is familiar with the mesothelioma laws in your state.
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